Episode Summary

Throughout history, the moon has always fascinated humanity. In 1954, Jean-Luc Despont recalls working on 1902's Le Voyage dans la lune (A Trip to the Moon). He, star/writer/director Georges Méliès and everyone else involved did their best to make an interesting movie. Flashing ahead, Gene Cernan, Jack Schmitt and others recall 1972's Apollo 17 – the last moon mission. Details like how Schmitt got his chance to go to the moon, mission details and what went on up there are covered. How are these two moments related? More importantly, will humanity ever walk on the moon again?moreless

Jack Schmitt: I can make a claim to being the last person to walk on the moon. It all depends on how you look at it. I got out of the LEM after Gene did. So that would make me the twelfth and final person to make footprints up there. (pause) It's not like I get stopped at restaurants because of it.

Gene Cernan: As I take man's last step from the surface, back home, for now but we believe not too long into the future. I'd just like to say what history will record. That America's challenge of today has forged man's destiny of tomorrow. And as we leave the moon at Taurus-Littrow we leave as we came and God willing, as we shall return with peace and hope for all mankind. Godspeed the crew of Apollo 17.

Jean-Luc Despont: (George Melies) came to me one day and said, "Jean-Luc, I want to tell an amazing story with my camera. I want to take people on the most amazing trip." I thought he meant a trip to someplace literal. To Lyon or Marseille. Then he said, "Let's take a voyage to the moon." And I said, "How about Nice? It's closer."

NOTES (2)

This is the only episode not introduced by Tom Hanks. Instead there is an off-camera introduction by Blythe Danner who then narrates. This was obviously done to prevent confusion as Tom Hanks stars and narrates the historical portion as his character Jean Luc Despont.

Related Shows & Movies

Important:
You must only upload images which you have created yourself or that you are expressly authorised or licensed to upload. By clicking "Publish", you are confirming that the image fully complies with TV.com’s Terms of Use and that you own all rights to the image or have authorization to upload it.

Please read the following before uploading

Do not upload anything which you do not own or are fully licensed to upload. The images should not contain any sexually explicit content, race hatred material or other offensive symbols or images. Remember: Abuse of the TV.com image system may result in you being banned from uploading images or from the entire site – so, play nice and respect the rules!